Braves starters have not allowed a run in the first five games of spring training, getting two scoreless innings each from Tommy Hanson, Tim Hudson, Kenshin Kawakami, Derek Lowe and Kris Medlen.
Yeah, but their 1 and 2 combined to be worth 11.3 last year.
Those two alone pretty much offset the projected values of Lowe, Jurrjens, and Hudson. That rotation is also set up far better for a playoff run, so given the close WAR projections I’d go with theirs. No frickin way on the Angels though, they have decent depth, but unless Kazmir bounces back nothing resembling a front of the rotation pitcher.
I understand this way of thinking – the top 2 are better in a playoff situation.
However, it sucks for teams like are built this way that the MLB regualr season is not a short playoff series. Having 40% (or even 60% in some cases) of your starting rotation below league average will not get a team to the playoffs. I would much rather have Atlanta’s rotation (or one comparable to it, like the Mariners) than the Phillies, Cardinals or Angels rotations.
Having a rotation built for playoff success is a bit like measuring the drapes before you move into the house.
2 legitimate aces and two league average pitchers will get a team a long way, espescailly with an offense built like the Cards (although that really doesn’t factor into this discussion). The number 5 spot may not be settled yet, but it’s hard to see a guy like Boggs producing much below league average if he secures the spot.
The guy pitched with a bad elbow from May on last year and got shut down in august, and still was more valuable than Jurrjens. I could see Johnson for sure, and I could buy into the argument for Hanson, but not a chance for JJ
I’m with you on this one, but you have to consider the fact that Santana is not guaranteed a healthy 2010. Then again, neither is JJ, but the point remains that Santana, while a better pitcher, is on the decline, is much older and wasn’t THAT much more effective than JJ.
yep yep yep
what they don’t have in flash/star power they more than make up for in depth. this has the potential to be the best in the league
Slee - March 7, 2010
Lowe
Hudson
Jurrjens
Hanson
Kawakami
Medlen
Depth? Madness! Everyone knows the only pitchers that matter in the NL East are Johan Santana and Roy Halladay. Everyone else sucks.
Scott Coleman - March 7, 2010
Braves aren’t even top 5 in the league according to Buster Olney.
justincredubil02 - March 7, 2010
LOLBusterOlney
Scott Coleman - March 7, 2010 via mobile
That was terrible
I cannot see any valid argument for saying the Cardinals and Angels are better than the Braves 1-5.
alligatorimpersonator - March 7, 2010
cardinals, sure they have carp and wainwright and blah blah blah but ANGELS? ha, no.
atl192485 - March 7, 2010
The thing that bugged me about Olney picking the Cardinals is this quote right here: “Carpenter, Wainwright, Lohse, Penny, and somebody else.”
Somebody else, seriously?! The Cardinals have a black hole at the 5 spot, and their #3 and #4 starters project to have a 2.1 and a 2.2 WAR.
alligatorimpersonator - March 7, 2010
Haha
It’s bad enough that they have Brad Penny in their rotation, but he’s their number 4! Someone must be pretty…well not good to be their 5.
award6 - March 7, 2010
I would like to see Mitchell boggs be their 5th starter. He’s from my hometown of Dalton, Ga.
heap16 - March 7, 2010 via mobile
Yeah, but their 1 and 2 combined to be worth 11.3 last year.
Those two alone pretty much offset the projected values of Lowe, Jurrjens, and Hudson. That rotation is also set up far better for a playoff run, so given the close WAR projections I’d go with theirs. No frickin way on the Angels though, they have decent depth, but unless Kazmir bounces back nothing resembling a front of the rotation pitcher.
Stephen Schmidt - March 7, 2010
I understand this way of thinking – the top 2 are better in a playoff situation.
However, it sucks for teams like are built this way that the MLB regualr season is not a short playoff series. Having 40% (or even 60% in some cases) of your starting rotation below league average will not get a team to the playoffs. I would much rather have Atlanta’s rotation (or one comparable to it, like the Mariners) than the Phillies, Cardinals or Angels rotations.
Having a rotation built for playoff success is a bit like measuring the drapes before you move into the house.
justincredubil02 - March 7, 2010
League average is roughly 2 WAR
2 legitimate aces and two league average pitchers will get a team a long way, espescailly with an offense built like the Cards (although that really doesn’t factor into this discussion). The number 5 spot may not be settled yet, but it’s hard to see a guy like Boggs producing much below league average if he secures the spot.
Stephen Schmidt - March 7, 2010
In all honesty, I’d probably take Josh Johnson, Jurrjens, or Hanson over Santana at this point in his career.
BigG1392 - March 7, 2010
JJ wouldnt even make it on an NL East AAA All-Star team...
Doghnut - March 7, 2010
This.
justincredubil02 - March 7, 2010
Jurrjens over Santana?
The guy pitched with a bad elbow from May on last year and got shut down in august, and still was more valuable than Jurrjens. I could see Johnson for sure, and I could buy into the argument for Hanson, but not a chance for JJ
Stephen Schmidt - March 7, 2010
I’m with you on this one, but you have to consider the fact that Santana is not guaranteed a healthy 2010. Then again, neither is JJ, but the point remains that Santana, while a better pitcher, is on the decline, is much older and wasn’t THAT much more effective than JJ.
justincredubil02 - March 7, 2010
Hanson was jinxed…
award6 - March 7, 2010
i just saw that
damnit.
Scott Coleman - March 7, 2010
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of Talking Chop to post a comment.